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Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that will ratify the Treaty with Russia on Measures for Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, commonly known as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which will govern the reduction, monitoring and inspection of each country's strategic offensive arms.

Highlights:

Requires that each party reduce and limit its strategic offensive arms (Article 1).

Authorizes each party to determine for itself the composition and structure of strategic offensive arms, including the modernization and replacement of strategic offensive arms, within the limits of the treaty (Article 2 & Article 5).

Establishes a Bilateral Consultative Commission, which shall convene at least twice a year in Geneva, Switzerland at the request of either party, to resolve questions relating to compliance with the treaty (Article 12 & Part 6).

Defines the term "ballistic missile" as a weapon-delivery vehicle that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path (Part 1).

Defines the term "intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)" as a land-based ballistic missile with a range in excess of 5,500 kilometers (Part 1).

Defines the term "submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)" as a ballistic missile with a range in excess of 600 kilometers, which has been contained in or launched from a submarine (Part 1).

Defines the term "heavy bomber" as an airplane of any type which was initially constructed or later converted to be equipped for bombs, and which satisfies either of the following conditions (Part 1):

Its range is greater than 8,000 kilometers; or

It is equipped for long-range nuclear air-launched cruise missiles.

Defines the term "reentry vehicle" as the part of the front section of a missile that can survive reentry through the Earth's atmosphere and that is designed for delivering a weapon to a target (Part 1).

Prohibits each party from possessing strategic offensive arms more than 7 years after the treaty has been entered into force in excess of the following limits (Article 2):

Defines the term "deployed" as a state of being in which a missile, launch canister or heavy bomber contains nuclear material and is not designated as a test launcher, training launcher, or launcher at a space launch facility (Article 2).

Specifies the types of strategic offensive arms covered by the treaty (Article 3):

For the Russian Federation:

The RS-12M, RS-12M2, RS-18, RS-20, and RS-24 ICBMs and their associated launchers;

The RSM-50, RSM-52, RSM-54, and RSM-56 SLBMs and their associated launchers; and

The Tu-95MS and Tu-160 heavy bombers.

For the United States of America:

The Minuteman II, Minuteman III, and Peacekeeper ICBMs and their associated launchers;

The Trident II SLBM and its associated launchers; and

The B-52G, B-52H, B-1B, and B-2A heavy bombers.

Requires that each deployed ICBM, SLBM, and heavy bomber be counted as one (Article 3).

Requires that each deployed and non-deployed ICBM launcher, SLBM launcher, and heavy bomber be counted as one (Article 3).

Requires that the number of warheads counted shall equal the number of reentry vehicles on deployed ICBMs and SLBMs, and that only one nuclear warhead should be counted for each heavy bomber (Article 3).

Exempts from coverage any missile that is designed to intercept and counter objects that are not on the surface of the Earth (Article 3).

Specifies that new ICBMs, SLBMs and mobile ICBM launchers become subject to the treaty when they first leave a production facility, silo launchers become subject to the treaty when the silo door is first installed and closed, and SLBM launchers become subject to the treaty when the submarine is first launched (Article 3).

Requires that ICBMs be stored at ICBM bases, heavy bombers at air bases, SLBMs on submarines, and test launchers at test ranges (Article 4).

Prohibits either party from basing any strategic offensive arms outside of the party's national territory (Article 4).

Limits the period of time when strategic offensive arms are allowed to be in transit to 30 days (Article 4).

Authorizes either party to bring to the attention of the Bilateral Consultative Commission any new type of strategic offensive arm for possible coverage by the treaty (Article 5).

Requires the creation of a database containing information about each strategic offensive arm, and that each party shall notify the other if there are any changes to the information (Article 6, Part 2 & Part IV).

Requires that each party notify the other when strategic offensive arms are converted or eliminated (Article 6).

Authorizes each party to confirm the accuracy of declared data by conducting inspections or using national technical means of verification (Article 6, Article 10 & Article 11).

Defines the term "national technical means" as systems used to collect information including, but not limited to, reconnaissance satellites (Analysis of Article 10).

Prohibits either party from using concealment measures that impede the verification of declared data, and from actively interfering with the verification of declared data (Article 10).

Authorizes each party to release data related to its respective strategic offensive arms to the public, with the exception of geographic coordinates, site diagrams, unique identifiers, and coastlines and waters diagrams (Article 7).

Requires each party to communicate through Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers or through diplomatic channels (Article 7 & Part IV).

Requires that each strategic offensive arm be labeled with a unique identifier that cannot be changed (Part 2 & Annex).

Requires each party to carry out the initial exchange of information for the database within 45 days after the treaty has entered into force (Part 2).

Prohibits either party from assuming any international obligations that would conflict with the provisions of the treaty, with the exception of any obligations already existing at the time that the treaty was signed (Article 13).

Requires that the treaty be subject to ratification in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each party, and that the treaty will enter into force on the same day that the instruments of ratification are exchanged (Article 14).

Specifies that the treaty will remain in force for 10 years unless superseded earlier by a subsequent agreement, and that the treaty may be extended by mutual consent for no more than 5 years (Article 14).

Authorizes either party to withdraw from the treaty if it decides that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of the treaty have jeopardized its supreme interests, provided that the withdrawing party provides notification and a statement of the extraordinary events (Article 14).

Specifies that this treaty supersedes the previous START of 2002, which shall terminate on the same day that the New START enters into force (Article 14).

Authorizes either party to propose amendments to the treaty during the ratification process, and to make changes to the treaty through the Bilateral Consultative Commission (Article 15).

Requires that the treaty be registered with the United Nations (Article 16).